Weekly Recap: New Super, Fire Chief Retiring, Eliminating Full-Day K Fee

Here are some of the highlights from Melrose Patch's news coverage this past week. This is only a small sample—to see all the coverage, click on the News tab on the navigation bar.

To see your neighbors' news, check out our Announcements section under News, and read Local Voices bloggers' latest posts.

Top Five Articles of the Week

It's usually top three, but this has been a busy week in Melrose ...

, pending contract negotiations, after a School Committee vote on Thursday night. The committee voted 6-1 for Taymore in a roll call vote, with committee member Carrie Kourkoumelis voting for Dr. James Kelleher. Following the roll call vote, the committee unanimously selected Taymore as the next superintendent, pending contract negotiations that began immediately after the meeting in executive session.

after nine years as chief and 35 years in the department, Mayor Rob Dolan announced in a press release this morning. O'Brien will be retiring from the Melrose Fire Department on June 1. According to the release, he will be taking an unspecified job in fire safety in Hudson, NH.

Mayor Rob Dolan is proposing to The move would cost approximately $500,000 next school year, but the city's Chapter 70 state education funding would cover the cost of the full-day students in subsequent years. Level-funded local aid, a lack of snow deficit and a low health insurance increase would allow the city to fill the one-year financial gap before the boost in state education funding, Dolan said.

Residents and public officials from Melrose and surrounding communities flocked to Main Street Wednesday morning as The division, based out of the Melrose Armory, has been deployed on a year-long mission in Afghanistan.

The MBTA announced a new plan to tackle next year's budget deficit that would increase fares by 23 percent and make $15 million in .

Schools

Several children from schools across Melrose won awards at a regional Destination Imagination tournament, and .

Melrose Patch live blogged from Wednesday's public meeting and School Committee i, the final Melrose Public Schools superintendent candidate—.

We asked in a poll on Thursday morning .

Real Estate

As sales of Massachusetts single-family homes soared last month, according to the latest figures from The Warren Group.

, mirroring a statewide jump in foreclosure activity during February, according to the latest figures from The Warren Group.

Police and Fire

Melrose Police are investigating the at 385 Franklin St.

U.S. Marshals apprehend suspect in Melrose and .

Opinion

With lawmakers considering a bill that would legalize the sale of fireworks in the Bay State, according to a report by the Boston Globe, we want to know: 

The majority of people who voted in last week's poll, "Which Melrose Park Most Needs Spring Cleaning?" .

Best of Patch Readers' Choice

Turner's held off a strong push by Bobby C's to win this week's Best of Patch Readers' Choice contest for .

Local Voices Bloggers

Chris Cinella covers the topic from an investment standpoint.

This year’s Healthy Melrose Family Wellness and Fitness Fair will be kicking off the fair at 10 a.m. with its , Joe Ingemi writes.

Is the money saved buying cheaper commercial products over more expensive professional products really worth it? .

Photographer Matt Wallace shares a .

Melrose Veteran Services Officer Ryan McLane .